We've all seen the ostentatious green paint of a supercar before, but where the Ferrari 599 above differs is that this piece of auto exotica actually is a "green car" thanks to its experimental hybrid powertrain.

An electric motor develops around 100bhp and 110 lb ft of torque, giving the Ferrari 599 HY-KERS a health power boost for overtaking or starting from a stand-still. The system also allows the hybrid Ferrari to function as a fully fledged electric vehicle, although with a predicted range of just 3 miles it's not the solution to guilt and C02 free supercar ownership.

Best of all though, Ferrari claim the system -- which actually adds 100kg to the weight of the car -- actually improves performance. The Hybrid 599 will apparently crack 124mph in just 10.4 seconds, 0.6 seconds quicker than the petrol model. and a new traction control system currently under development called ETC -- that can reverse the torque of the electric motor when it detects wheel slip -- will improve the car's cornering and handling ability when a production hybrid Ferrari finally makes its first appearance in around three years time.